Rik01:I also can't help but notice these startling figures in profit -- and consider the reluctance of them all to pay their workers a reasonable wage. Then again, that might be due to what the Yuppies started in the 80's. Fast and big profit required for investing in stocks. If you made a billion last year, you better make a billion+ next year. Decrease even a fraction of a percentage and the Yuppies dump the stock -- even if the overall outlook is strong.

Ugh, the "Sees politics everywhere" guy. Do you nitwits have to spoil everything?

I kinda prefer the IHOP Slams. But it takes time--parking, getting seated and being served. Once in a while it's worth it.

When I want a REAL breakfast I cook it m'self. Eggs, bacon (LOTS of bacon), sausage, onions and peppers, spinach and mushrooms, and cheeses and a myriad other veggies in the eggs (if they're scrambled or in an omelet). With sauces like Tabasco, or maybe some red or green salsa. If the eggs are "over easy," or poached, holandaise sauce is good--over an English muffin. Or, there's Bisquick biscuits, toast, bagels, and hash brown 'taters or "home fries." And coffee--good coffee. Lots of it. And maybe some fruit--melon or peaches, or orange sections--along side. Oooh-wee! Breakfast! "Good stuff, Maynard."

Tr0mBoNe:Eat fruit and perhaps some cereal and have some coffee. You'll save money and will feel better.

But when you can get two 600 calorie fat and sodium bombs for 3 bucks, why bother?I was amazed at the low price of fast food in the States on a recent trip. You couldn't buy the ingredients yourself for those prices. I guess it shows the buying power of the big franchises.

Egg mcmuffin is good when you're drunk or hungover, but nothing beats a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on an everything bagel from a New York deli. It's delicious, I think everyone should try one at least once. You'll be hooked.

The thing that Taco Bell's breakfast is missing is that they don't sauce all of their offerings. You're up against the Egg McMuffin, the purest, somewhat least greasiest breakfast perfection fast food on the planet, and you need to differentiate yourself from everybody else who is using the same scrambled egg-like product, same sort of sausage, and everything else - since I assume it all comes shipped from Sysco on the same truck.

The Taco Bell waffle taco was worse than the same Eggo waffle concoction you've made while hungover. The breakfast burrito didn't even have any additives like peppers or onions that you don't want to chop while hungover. The saving grace of the items I tried has been the crunchwrap, because it uses the same sauce that their normal quesadillas have, which is too much hassle to make while hungover and really tasty.

It's like Taco Bell executives got together and said "What tastes define our brand, and how can we not use any of them in favor of generic breakfast food?"

The Egg McMuffin is a classic, that abomination made with egg-whites only notwithstanding. Taco Bell's offerings are actually pretty decent. The Waffle Taco is mostly a gimmick, but the AM Crunchwrap is close to a perfect breakfast item - tasty, affordable, and easy to eat without anything on yourself on the go.